Shri Hamilton-Hubbard acknowledged Jacksonville hasn’t been known for supporting Kirtan — a call and response chanting performed in India's bhakti devotional traditions — in large numbers.

“The turnout for this three-day event at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum has been amazing,” said the founder of Bliss Yoga Shala, one of the local businesses to sponsor Bhagavan Das in Jacksonville.

“The time is now,” Das said as he arrived Jan. 10 for Satsang — "The Flame of Living Love — What is the Guru?”

“Third times a charm. He actually called us this time,” said Maria Cox from the 5 Points shop Midnight Sun - who had attempted to get Bhagavan Das to Jacksonville on two other occasions.

Guru Neem Karoli Baba taught the ancient science of Nada Yoga to Bhagavan Das — originally from Laguna Beach, Calif. — when he lived as a sadhu in India for six years.

Nada Yoga draws upon the inner sound current (the voice of the heart) as a path to devotion and God Realization. The double album “Ah” (1971) was the first world music album to be recorded in Electric Ladyland studios and was produced by Jimi Hendrix's manager Michael Jeffrey. Bhagavan Das sang with Bob Dylan, opened for the Grateful Dead, toured with Allen Ginsberg, and mentored Ram Das (author of the seminal 1971 book “Be Here Now”) while living in India. Mike D from the Beastie Boys produced and co-wrote the album "Now" (2002) of chanting set to music that sounds modern and ancient simultaneously.

The Kirtan session on Jan. 11 at Karpeles Museum was highly charged and left everyone who participated feeling lighter, more grounded and in awe.

The last living cultural icon from the ‘60s was in Jacksonville for three days and the people who attended really tuned in and raised the vibration in Jacksonville. If you missed it, Bhagavan Das will be at Amrit Yoga Institute in Salt Springs, Fla., Feb. 7-9.